5 Reasons Why Man City's Vincent Kompany Will Bounce Back from Slump in Form

It’s been a disturbing aspect of Manchester City’s faltering season and one which Manuel Pellegrini is facing head on. The form of Vincent Kompany, for so long the club’s inspirational leader and one of the best defenders in Premier League history, has been well short of his best, resulting in him being dropped from the lineup in the team's recent home win over Leicester City.

Since returning from injury in January, he has been a liability to the side, with his rashness costing City on too many occasions. Pellegrini did the right thing and relegated him to the bench, with a period out of the side the best scenario for everyone.

However, he has, for so long, been a wonderful defender, and here are five reasons to believe he can return to his best soon.

Class Is Permanent, Form Is Temporary

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The old adage “class is permanent, form is temporary” surely applies to City’s captain. Although it’s clear he is painfully out of form and struggling badly, his overall quality is such that it feels like a blip. A longer blip than expected, but a blip, nonetheless.

Kompany was the finest defender in the Premier League not so long ago. He possesses everything needed to be a top defender and these qualities will surely allow him a route back to premium form. 

City Can Get to the Bottom of His Injury Problems

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Speaking before the game with Chelsea in February, Pellegrini said the club were frustrated with Kompany’s injury situation and that they were looking for a solution. He suffers frequent muscle problems, particularly in the calf area, which has resulted in him missing 30 league games in the last three seasons.

Pellegrini said: "Yes, of course, It’s a matter of concern because it’s too many injuries, especially muscle and calf injuries.

"We are trying to study why it happens, there’s a lot of different reasons, it’s very difficult to know exactly what is the major reason."

City’s medical staff will be working around the clock to ensure a solution is found. The injuries haven’t helped his form, and by alleviating that pressure, he will be given a good opportunity to find his best again.

His Manager Is a Patient Man

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Say what you like about Pellegrini’s tactical stubbornness—and many people have weighed in on that debate recently—he remains a superb man-manager.

Players undoubtedly like him. He is patient and fair, and always looks for solutions to problems that don’t adversely affect a player’s confidence.

Take the Joe Hart situation last season. The City goalkeeper was suffering a crisis of confidence not too dissimilar to Kompany's, and he was taken out of the limelight for six weeks and defended staunchly by Pellegrini in the press.

It worked brilliantly. Hart was brought back into the side and has looked much better than he did before. As a result, City have benefited hugely. Kompany may not spend quite as long on the sidelines, but it seems Pellegrini will utilise a similar method in order to get his best defender refocused and reenergised.

He Is a True Professional

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Some people have an issue with Kompany’s style of defending, which critics feel is rash and over-eager, but few can argue he remains one of the game’s great professionals.

He is self-analytical, almost to a fault, and constantly striving to improve in everything he does. No one will be more aware that his current malaise is unacceptable than the man himself.

That desire to improve, and the absolute professionalism he has founded his success on, will provide him with the best possible platform to return to his old form.

Look at the Example of John Terry

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At 29, Kompany has plenty of time left in his career, and if John Terry, the Chelsea captain, can teach him anything, it’s that dips in form are rarely terminal when you are naturally gifted.

Terry has been written off before, sidelined and somewhat marginalised at Chelsea in the recent past. Yet this season, he’s been the league’s best defender, showing that experience and quality will always come to the fore.

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.